U.S. patent application number 13/362302 was filed with the patent office on 2013-08-01 for interactive shopping - health & wellness.
The applicant listed for this patent is Yasir Anwar. Invention is credited to Yasir Anwar.
Application Number | 20130196297 13/362302 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48870529 |
Filed Date | 2013-08-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130196297 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Anwar; Yasir |
August 1, 2013 |
INTERACTIVE SHOPPING - HEALTH & WELLNESS
Abstract
Various aspects are directed to providing health and wellness
guidance and support both in social settings and through other
on-line platforms. The on-line platforms can integrate health and
wellness goal definition, activity tracking, grocery shopping,
pharmacy shopping, and general merchandise purchasing to provide
advice and alternative recommendations during any purchase
activity. Recommendations and advise can include on-line visual
display components. For example, a user avatar display can be
configured to reflect health and wellness activity of the user. The
user avatar can be configured to display a current health and
wellness state for the user. The avatar can be modified over time
to reflect changes in the health and wellness state for the user,
based on the user's goal performance. Further, the visual display
component can be shared over various social networks to promote
improvement in health and wellness both individually and among
social groups.
Inventors: |
Anwar; Yasir; (Fremont,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Anwar; Yasir |
Fremont |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
48870529 |
Appl. No.: |
13/362302 |
Filed: |
January 31, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
434/236 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G16H 40/67 20180101;
G16H 20/60 20180101 |
Class at
Publication: |
434/236 |
International
Class: |
G09B 19/00 20060101
G09B019/00 |
Claims
1. A system for delivering health and wellness recommendations, the
system comprising at least one processor operatively connected to a
memory, the processor configured to execute a plurality of system
components, the plurality of system components comprising: a goal
component configured to establish health related goals for a user;
a monitor component configured to monitor shopping activity for the
user; a recommendation component configured to generate
recommendations for purchase items based, at least in part, on
analysis of the shopping activity and the health related goals; and
a communication component configured to communicate the
recommendations to the user, wherein at least some of the
recommendations are communicated during an on-line shopping
activity of the user.
2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of system
components further comprises a visualization component configured
to define an avatar for the user.
3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the visualization
component is further configured to modify the avatar based, at
least in part, on monitored activity associated with the health
related goals.
4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the visualization
component is further configured to publish the avatar.
5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of system
components further comprises a user interface component configured
to accept information on at least one user, including account
information for on-line shopping accounts.
6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the on-line shopping
accounts include at least one of an on-line grocery system, an
on-line pharmacy system, and an on-line general merchandise
system.
7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of system
components further comprises an analysis component configured to
analyze the monitored activity to determine health and wellness
performance.
8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the analysis component
is further configured to determine health and wellness performance
based on comparing user purchases to a statistical model for
expected purchases.
9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the recommendation
component is further configured to generate at least one
alternative purchase selection based on the analyzed nutrition
characteristics.
10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the recommendation
component is further configured to generate at least one
alternative purchase selection based on a user profile.
11. A computer implemented method for delivering health and
wellness recommendations, the method comprising: establishing,
using a computer system, health related goals for a user;
monitoring, using the computer system, shopping activity for the
user; generating, by the computer system, recommendations for
purchase items based, at least in part, on analysis of the shopping
activity and the health related goals; and communicating, by the
computer system, the recommendations to the user, wherein at least
some of the recommendations are communicated during an on-line
shopping activity of the user.
12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising an act of
establishing an avatar for the user for display on a user
interface.
13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising an act of
modifying the avatar based, at least in part, on monitored activity
associated with the health related goals.
14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising an act of
publishing the avatar.
15. The method according to claim 11, further comprising an act of
accepting information on at least one user, including account
information for on-line shopping accounts.
16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the on-line shopping
accounts include at least one of an on-line grocery system, an
on-line pharmacy system, and an on-line general merchandise
system.
17. The method according to claim 11, further comprising an act of
analyzing the monitored activity to determine health and wellness
performance.
18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising an act of
determining health and wellness performance based on comparing user
purchases to a statistical model for expected purchases.
19. The method according to claim 11, further comprising an act of
generating at least one alternative purchase selection based on
analyzed nutrition characteristics of the purchases.
20. The method according to claim 11, further comprising an act of
generating at least one alternative purchase selection based on a
user profile.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present disclosure is directed to health and wellness
monitoring systems, and more specifically to communicating
recommendations and monitored performance relating a user's health
and wellness activity.
[0003] 2. Related Art
[0004] Health and wellness is a rapidly evolving area of interest
to all consumers. In particular, the social shopping domain is
expanding to provide dietary assistance and guidance in a number of
areas. Typically, dietary guidance and assistance is provided by
companies looking to sell their services and/or brand. The guidance
and assistance is thus limited to the scope of the domain in which
the company operates.
SUMMARY
[0005] In broad overview, various aspects are directed to providing
health and wellness guidance and support both in social settings
and through other on-line platforms. The on-line platforms can
integrate health and wellness goal definition, activity tracking,
grocery shopping, pharmacy shopping, and general merchandise
purchasing to provide advice and alternative recommendations during
any purchase activity. Recommendations and advice can include an
on-line visual display component. For example, a user avatar
display (e.g., a computer display of a human form or approximation)
can be configured to reflect health and wellness activity of the
user. The user avatar can be configured to display a health and
wellness state for the user's purchase activity. The avatar can be
modified over time to reflect changes in the health and wellness
state for the user. Further, the visual display component can be
shared over various social networks to promote improvement in
health and wellness both individually and among social groups.
[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, a system
for delivering health and wellness recommendations is provided. The
system comprises at least one processor operatively connected to a
memory, the processor configured to execute a plurality of system
component is provided. The plurality of system components comprises
a goal component configured to establish health related goals for a
user, a monitor component configured to monitor shopping activity
for the user, a recommendation component configured to generate
recommendations for purchase items based, at least in part, on
analysis of the shopping activity and the health related goals, and
a communication component configured communicate the
recommendations to the user, wherein at least some of the
recommendations are communicated during at least some on-line
shopping activity.
[0007] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the
plurality of system components further comprises a visualization
component configured to define an avatar for the user. According to
another embodiment of the invention, the visualization component is
further configured to modify the avatar based, at least in part, on
monitored activity associated with the health related goals.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the visualization
component is further configured to publish the avatar. According to
another embodiment of the invention, the plurality of system
components further comprises a user interface component configured
to accept information on at least one user, including account
information for on-line shopping accounts.
[0008] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the
on-line shopping accounts include at least one of an on-line
grocery system, an on-line pharmacy system, and an on-line general
merchandise system. According to another embodiment of the
invention, the plurality of system components further comprises an
analysis component configured to analyze the monitored activity to
determine health and wellness performance. According to another
embodiment of the invention, the analysis component is further
configured to generate statistical models for expected purchase
characteristics. According to another embodiment of the invention,
the analysis component is further configured to determine health
and wellness performance based on comparing user purchases to a
statistical model for expected purchases. According to another
embodiment of the invention, the recommendation component is
further configured to generate at least one alternative purchase
selection based on the analyzed nutrition characteristics.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the
recommendation component is further configured to generate at least
one alternative purchase selection based on a user profile.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the
recommendation component is further configured to notify a user of
food and drug interactions.
[0009] According to aspect of the present invention, a computer
implemented method for delivering health and wellness
recommendations is provided. The method comprises establishing, by
a computer system, health related goals for a user, monitoring, by
the computer system, shopping activity for the user, generating, by
the computer system, recommendations for purchase items based, at
least in part, on analysis of the shopping activity and the health
related goals, and a communicating, by the computer system, the
recommendations to the user, wherein at least some of the
recommendations are communicated during at least some on-line
shopping activity of the user. According to one embodiment of the
present invention, the method further comprises an act of
establishing an avatar for the user for display on a user
interface. According to another embodiment of the invention, the
method further comprises an act of modifying the avatar based, at
least in part, on monitored activity associated with the health
related goals. According to another embodiment of the invention,
the method further comprises an act of publishing the avatar.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the method
further comprises an act of accepting information on at least one
user, including account information for on-line shopping
accounts.
[0010] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the
on-line shopping accounts include at least one of an on-line
grocery system, an on-line pharmacy system, and an on-line general
merchandise system. According to another embodiment of the
invention, the method further comprises an act of analyzing the
monitored activity to determine health and wellness performance.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the method
further comprises an act of generating statistical models for
expected purchase characteristics of the user. According to another
embodiment of the invention, the method further an act of
determining health and wellness performance based on comparing user
purchases to a statistical model for expected purchases. According
to another embodiment of the invention, the method further
comprises an act of generating at least one alternative purchase
selection based on analyzed nutrition characteristics of the
purchases. According to another embodiment of the invention, the
method further comprises an act of generating at least one
alternative purchase selection based on a user profile. According
to another embodiment of the invention, the method further
comprises an act of notifying a user of food and drug
interactions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The accompanying drawings are not intended to be drawn to
scale. In the drawings, each identical or nearly identical
component that is illustrated in various figures is represented by
a like numeral. For purposes of clarity, not every component may be
labeled in every drawing. In the drawings:
[0012] FIG. 1A is a block diagram of an example system architecture
for an embodiment of a health and wellness platform, according to
aspects of the invention;
[0013] FIG. 1B is a block diagram of an example system architecture
for an embodiment of a health and wellness platform, according to
aspects of the invention;
[0014] FIG. 1C is a block diagram of an example system architecture
for an embodiment of a health and wellness platform, according to
aspects of the invention;
[0015] FIG. 1D is a block diagram of an example system architecture
for an embodiment of a health and wellness platform, according to
aspects of the invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 illustrates an example process for delivering
recommendations to a user based on established goals, according to
aspects of the invention;
[0017] FIG. 3 is an example process for providing health and
wellness recommendations during on-line shopping activity,
according to aspects of the invention;
[0018] FIG. 4A is an example process for defining a user avatar,
according to aspects of the invention;
[0019] FIG. 4B is an example display of a current state avatar,
according to aspects of the invention;
[0020] FIG. 4C is an example display of a goal avatar, according to
aspects of the invention;
[0021] FIG. 5 illustrates an example process for reporting on
health and wellness performance using a visual display, according
to aspects of the invention;
[0022] FIG. 6 illustrates an example process for determining user
performance, according to aspects of the invention;
[0023] FIG. 7 illustrates an example process for defining user
goals, according to aspects of the invention;
[0024] FIG. 8 illustrates an example process for generating health
and wellness recommendations, according to aspects of the
invention;
[0025] FIG. 9 is a block diagram of an example architecture for a
general purpose computer system on which various aspects of the
invention can be implemented;
[0026] FIG. 10 is a block diagram of an example architecture for a
general purpose computer system on which various aspects of the
invention can be implemented; and
[0027] FIG. 11 illustrates an example process for capturing
registration information, according to aspects of the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0028] According to some aspects, a health and wellness platform
can enable a user to define and track health and wellness goals.
The platform can be configured to monitor the user's on-line
activity to determine compliance with the user defined goals. In
particular, some embodiments of the health and wellness platform
can be integrated with the user's grocery and/or pharmacy
purchasing sites. In one example, the platform can monitor grocery
purchasing during a user's shopping experience to determine health
and wellness scoring for grocery items as they are purchased or
added to a user's on-line shopping cart. The scoring can reflect
nutritional information for the grocery items. The health and
wellness scoring can also be determined relative to the user
defined goals. Further, analysis of the purchases made or
considered enables the platform to automatically deliver
recommendations for healthier alternatives and/or alternatives that
better meet the user's goals. Any recommendations can be
communicated to the user during their shopping experiences.
[0029] In some embodiments, analysis of the purchases can include
warnings specifically tailored to user profile information. User
profile information can be obtained from integrated systems and/or
can be developed from tracked purchase activity. In one example, a
pharmacy system can maintain a user profile on the user accessing
the health and wellness platform. The user profile can include, for
example, the user's current medical conditions. Various grocery
purchases can trigger warnings specific to the user's current
medical conditions. For example, a user with high blood pressure
can receive warnings regarding grocery purchases with high sodium
content. Certain prescriptions can include food interaction
information, and the health and wellness platform can communicate
warnings advising of potential interactions. Potential interactions
and recommendations to resolve them can be displayed to the user
during a purchase experience.
[0030] In another embodiment, prescription fills can be monitored
by the health and wellness platform. Each prescription can be
associated by the platform with conditions the medication treats,
and the platform can provide recommendations based on past pharmacy
purchases. For example, monitored activity for a filled
prescription treating high blood pressure can cause the health and
wellness platform to recommend low salt content grocery items
during a grocery shopping experience. In another example,
fibromyalgia medication purchases can be monitored and identified.
During grocery shopping activity, the platform can recommend
alternatives having no or reduced amounts of gluten for any grocery
item(s) placed in a shopping cart.
[0031] In another aspect, health and wellness tracking by the
platform can include a user modifiable visual display component. In
one embodiment, the user is able to define a health and wellness
avatar display associated with the user and their current health
and wellness state. In one example, the avatar includes a human
form display, which can be tailored according to the user's
preference. Characteristics including: male, female, height,
weight, age, etc. can be incorporated into the computer displayed
avatar. The user can also define a "goal" avatar associated with
the user's health and wellness goals. The health and wellness
platform can transition the current avatar associated with the
user's current health and wellness state to display the goal avatar
based on tracking and monitoring of the user's grocery, pharmacy,
and/or general merchandise purchasing activity.
[0032] User defined goals can be accomplished over time, and the
platform can change the current avatar incrementally to reflect a
degree or percentage of achievement of a user defined goal. In
addition, the accomplishment of a goal or a portion of a goal can
be shared over social networks. In one example, the user or the
system can publish the user's avatar to social groups identified by
the user. The changes in the avatar provide visual indicators to
the group regarding health and wellness accomplishments. Sharing
health and wellness activity can reinforce positive behavior and
assist the user and the group in achieving their goals. In some
embodiments, the health and wellness platform can automatically
establish a current avatar based on information about the user,
(e.g., height, weight, age, fitness level, etc.), and automatically
define a goal avatar display based on user input goals.
[0033] Example System
[0034] Shown in FIG. 1A is a block diagram of an example system
architecture for an embodiment of a health and wellness platform
100. Health and wellness platform 100 can include a plurality of
executable system components that when executed enable system
functions and operations described herein. For example, health and
wellness platform 100 can be a general purpose computer system,
(e.g., FIG. 9, system 900), specially configured to perform the
processes and/or functions discussed.
[0035] In one embodiment, the health and wellness platform 100
includes a goal component 102. The goal component is configured to
define health related goals on the platform for users. Goals can be
defined for individual users, groups defined by the users, groups
of users, etc. In one example, a registered user can identify
individual goals and also define family based goals. Compliance
with defined goals can be monitored in a variety of settings by a
monitor component 103. The monitor component 103 can be configured
to track user purchase activity, for example, in grocery, pharmacy,
or general merchandise setting(s). The tracked activity can be
evaluated against the defined goals and/or other health and
wellness criteria.
[0036] The tracked activity can be evaluated to provide visual
feedback on goal performance. For example, a visualization
component 105 can be configured to establish and modify a visual
display based on goal performance. In some embodiments,
visualization component 105 is configured to generate an avatar
resembling a human form. The visualization component 105 can be
configured to modify the avatar based on goal performance. In some
embodiments, the avatar display is modified to reflect improvements
in health, (e.g., the avatar is displayed with a smaller waist,
better form, improved tone, better definition, etc.), as goals or
portions of goals are achieved.
[0037] The platform 100 can also be configured to generate
recommendations based on the monitored purchase activity. The
recommendations can be provided in real time by a recommendation
component 104 of the health and wellness platform. The
recommendation component 104 can be configured to communicate
healthier alternatives to purchase items, as the purchase items are
selected. For example, on-line grocery orders can be monitored and
different grocery purchases recommended in response to the user
viewing or adding a grocery item to a purchase cart. In another
example, recommendations can be tailored to specific health
information on the user. In some embodiments, recommendations can
also be tailored to the user defined goals.
[0038] Recommendations can reflect improvements in purchase items
selected by the user, but can also be determined based on a
shortfall identified by the platform. In some embodiments, goals
can be established on the platform using a goal component, that
defines nutritional requirements. Shortfalls in the nutritional
requirements can be resolved by recommendations for dietary
supplements, for example. A variety of goals can be established on
the health and wellness platform, for example, by a goal
component.
[0039] Goal Component
[0040] As discussed, the goal component 102 can be configured to
define health related goals in response to user input received by
the health and wellness platform. The goal component can also be
configured to provide a plurality of predefined health related
goals. In some embodiments, the platform can display the plurality
of predefined goals for selection in a user interface. For example,
weight loss can be selected as a goal for a user. Other goals can
include: reduce calorie intake, reduce calories per serving, lower
sodium intake, reduce sugar consumption, reduce fat consumption,
increase physical activity, increase exercise, lower carbohydrate
intake, manage medical condition, etc. The goal component can also
permit selection of, for example, ideal weight, eating proportions
of a nutrition category, (e.g., protein, fat, carbohydrates, sugar,
salt, etc.).
[0041] In some embodiments, the goal component 102 can be
responsive to selections made by a user in a user interface
displayed on a host computer system. The goal component 102 can be
configured to communicate goal options and settings for display in
the user interface. The goal component can also be connected to a
system memory to store the selected goals. In some embodiments, the
goal component can accept goal definition entered directly by the
user into the user interface. For example, the goal component can
be configured to accept "lose 10 pounds" as a user entered goal.
The goal component can also be configured to accept more generic
goals including "lose weight," for example. In one embodiment, the
goal component can select one or more predefined goals to associate
with any user entered goals. "Lose weight" can be associated by the
goal component with one or more of: reduce calories per serving,
reduce fat per serving, reduce total calories consumed, etc.
[0042] In some embodiments, the goal component can initiate an
interactive session with the user to identify and select goals with
measureable characteristics. Measureable characteristics can
include target amounts/levels of nutritional characteristics for
food items among other examples. In particular, the goal component
is configured to establish characteristics that can be measured by
tracking purchase activity by a monitor component 103, (e.g.,
nutritional category proportion, calories per serving, fat content,
etc.).
[0043] The goal component can also be configured to establish time
frames for each goal. In one example, goals can be defined as a
weekly goal, monthly goal, or against another period of time,
including achievement of the goal by a date. Based on the goals
selected by the user or defined by the goal component 102, user
activity can be monitored by a monitor component 103 to determine
goal performance.
[0044] Monitor Component
[0045] The monitor component 103 is configured to track purchase
activity for a user registered with the health and wellness
platform. In some embodiments, monitor component 103 access other
purchase subsystems to obtain purchase activity data. For example,
monitor component 103 can be configured to execute integration
functions and/or operations to enable the monitor component to
capture on-line purchase activity of a user. In some embodiments,
the monitor component 103 is specially configured to monitor and
analyze on-line shopping activity. For example, the monitor
component can request that the user provide registration
information for any on-line grocery services the user has active.
In addition, the monitor component 103 can request information on
other purchase accounts, reward membership accounts, including for
example, accounts with pharmacy ordering systems, grocery ordering
systems, and/or general merchandise ordering systems. The requested
information can be used by the monitor component to access the
subscribed systems to obtain purchase information for tracking and
analysis. In another embodiment, the monitor component 103 can be
configured to capture grocery purchases as they are being entered
by the user based on the registration information provided by the
user.
[0046] In some settings, the health and wellness platform and/or
the monitor component 103 can include locally executable components
that can monitor on-line shopping activity as it takes place on a
user's computer system. In one embodiment, the monitor component
103 can include the locally installable and executable component(s)
that may be downloaded by the user and run on a local computer
system. In another embodiment, the monitor component can be
configured to download and install the locally executable component
on a host computer system of a user. In one example, the locally
executable components can be provided for download as an "App"
obtained from a known "App Store." According to some embodiments,
the health and wellness platform does not need to integrate with
other shopping platforms or require registration information,
rather the locally executable component(s) can be configured to
capture data from shopping activity being performed on a host
computer system at a user location.
[0047] In some embodiments, the health and wellness platform can be
configured to access an on-line purchase site once the user logs
into the health and wellness platform. For example, the monitor
component 103 can be configured with a browser process, so that a
user can access a website for an on-line shopping venue while
logged into the health and wellness platform. In some additional
embodiments, a integrated health and wellness platform can be
connected to on-line grocery providers, on-line pharmacy providers,
and on-line general merchandise providers. In some embodiments,
integration of the on-line providers can include universal account
access information, which can eliminate the need for separate
registration information on the user's purchase accounts.
[0048] The monitor component 103 can be further configured to
capture purchase data as it is entered and/or acknowledged by an
on-line shopping venue. In one embodiment, the monitor component
103 can capture the purchase data in real or near real time as part
of a browser process executed for a user logged into the health and
wellness platform. In another embodiment, the monitor component can
be configured to poll data from a shopping site. In yet another
embodiment, the monitor component can be configured to log into a
shopping site concurrently with a user to capture purchase
information.
[0049] In some examples, the monitor component is also configured
to track off-line purchase activity. The monitor component 103 can
be configured to access reward accounts or membership accounts that
provide information on historic purchases. The monitor component
can capture the historic purchase information, (off-line and
on-line purchases), from the on-line reward accounts. In some other
embodiments, a user can input purchase information for monitoring
and/or analysis. In one example, a user can scan or take a picture
of a purchase receipt. The monitor component 103 can retrieve
associated information for the purchases on the receipt and include
the associated purchase information as part of the user's monitored
activity. In another embodiment, the user can take a picture of a
bar code, for example, on a smart phone for an item to enable
monitoring of the purchase activity.
[0050] In some settings, a purchase location or store can be
equipped with networked scanner devices. The scanner devices can be
configured to record purchases based on scanned bar-codes. The
networked scanner devices can be configured to deliver the recorded
purchases to a reward account managed by the purchase location. In
some environments, the health and wellness platform can receive
purchase information directly from the networked scanner
devices.
[0051] In one embodiment, analysis of a purchase can include
capturing nutrition information on a purchased consumable item, for
example, a food item. Nutrition information on food items can be
stored and accessed from a system memory. For example, a health and
wellness platform can be operatively connected to a database
containing nutrition information for a variety of consumable items
(e.g., food, vitamins, supplements, etc.). The consumable items can
include grocery items, pharmacy items, etc. In other embodiments,
the health and wellness platform can obtain and store nutrition
information obtained from on-line resources.
[0052] The purchased food item can be rated by the monitor
component 103 and the ratings displayed to the user during their
shopping experience. The rating can be based on any health related
goal established on the system. For example, the rating can be
based on the nutrition information for the purchased food item. A
food item with a high calorie per serving rating can be flagged for
user review. In some embodiments, the specific nutrition
information associated with the food item identified as not meeting
a goal or nutritional criteria can be highlighted, when displayed
with other associated nutrition information that does meet the goal
or nutrition criteria. In some settings, a recommendation component
104 can be configured to recommend an alternative product having
better nutritional characteristics.
[0053] Recommendation Component
[0054] The health and wellness platform 100 can include a
recommendation component 104 configured to generate recommendations
for delivery to a user. The recommendation component 104 can be
configured to identify comparable consumable items having better
health and wellness characteristics than a current selection. For
example, as a user selects a consumable item for purchase, the
monitor component 103 can identify the purchase item and
communicate identifying information for the item to the
recommendation component 104. The recommendation component can be
configured to analyze comparable items to identify a recommended
purchase with better health and wellness characteristics or that
meets any user defined goals established on the health and wellness
platform.
[0055] For example, the recommendation component 104 can receive
information on a food item added to a shopping cart from the
monitor component 103. In one embodiment, the recommendation
component can also receive the nutritional characteristics for the
item from the monitor component 103. In another embodiment, the
recommendation component can be configured to access or obtain
nutritional information on the food item, for example, from a
connected database of consumable items and nutrition information.
The recommendation component 104 can review available consumable
items and associate information to identify alternate purchases
having better characteristics. For example, an alternative food
item can be selected by the recommendation component 104, where the
alternative has fewer calories per serving, less fat content, lower
fate percentage, less saturated fat, etc. In another example, the
recommendation component can identify alternatives in the same
category to identify healthier alternatives to the food item in the
shopping cart, (e.g., replace ground beef with ground turkey,
select leaner meats, etc.). In other examples, an alternative food
item may share some of the same identifying information, for
example, "pizza" but have better nutritional information, for
example: fewer calories per serving, smaller percentage of fat per
serving, fewer total calories, etc. In some embodiments,
recommendations can be communicated to a user during the user's
shopping experience in real time or near real time.
[0056] In another embodiment, recommendations are generated by the
recommendation component 104 to improve, for example, nutritional
characteristics in accordance with user defined goals. Comparable
items can be identified based on classification, and the set of
comparable items analyzed to identify the item or items associated
with improvements in goal based characteristics. In one example,
the recommended items can be communicated to the user in a user
interface as the user adds items to an on-line purchase cart. In
another embodiment, recommendations can be delivered to other
electronic devices, for example, a smart phone during shopping
activity.
[0057] In some embodiments, the user can be presented with a
selectable icon in a user interface display to initiate
recommendations by the health and wellness system. In one example,
a "review my cart" button is displayed within a user interface, and
the health and wellness system or recommendation component 104 can
be configured to deliver recommendations responsive to selection of
the button in the user interface.
[0058] In some examples, recommendations can be based on analysis
of an entire shopping cart. Further, the recommendations can be
selected by the recommendation component 104 based on improvements
in nutritional characteristics and/or goal defined characteristics.
In some embodiments, the recommendation component 104 can be a
sub-component of the monitor component and in others, the monitor
component 103 can be configured to perform any or all of the
functions discussed with respect to the recommendation
component.
[0059] Visualization Component
[0060] Communicated recommendations can be accompanied by visual
indicators of nutritional and/or goal based characteristics as well
as adverse indications for medical conditions. In one embodiment,
health and wellness platform 100 includes a visualization component
105. The visualization component 105 can be configured to generate
and communicate graphical displays of, for example, nutrition
information for monitored purchase selections. In some embodiments,
the graphical displays can be configured to highlight nutrition
information that exceeds, meets, or does not meet user defined
goals. In some embodiments, highlighting of visual displays can be
also be employed if the nutritional information exceeds default
thresholds. The default thresholds can be established on the health
and wellness system, for example, based on the known government
recommended daily allowance ("RDA") statistics.
[0061] In some examples, the visualization component 105 can
generate status bar displays associated with nutritional
information for a purchase. Each applicable nutritional category
(e.g., calories, fat calories, fat %, carbohydrates, carbohydrates
%, carbohydrates calories, calcium, iron, magnesium, chromium,
phosphorus, chloride, potassium, sodium, fluoride, iodine, zinc,
copper, manganese, selenium, vitamins and minerals, vitamin A,
vitamin E, vitamin D, vitamin C, vitamin B1 (thiamin), vitamin B2
(riboflavin), vitamin B3 (niacin), vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid),
vitamin B6, biotin (vitamin B7), Folic Acid (vitamin B9), vitamin
B12, vitamin B13, vitamin B15, vitamin B17, vitamin K, folic acid,
tryptophan, threonine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine,
cysteine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, valine, arginine, histidine,
alanine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glycine, proline, serine,
cholesterol, essential fatty acids, trans fat, saturated fat, and
any other categories listed on the RDA) can be displayed with a
status bar reflecting the percentage of a daily allowance or a goal
amount for each category. Each status bar can also be color coded
to reflect categories that meet goal criteria or daily allowance
criteria. Green status bars can indicate categories for which goals
are met, yellow status bars can reflect categories that can be
improved, and red status bars can reflect categories for which an
alternative selection should be made.
[0062] In some embodiments, each category and associated status bar
can be aggregated across a group of purchases. For example, each
category can be evaluated against all the items in an entire
shopping cart and/or multiple shopping carts. In some embodiments,
the visualization component can generate other displays including,
for example, pie charts and/or bar graphs which illustrate how
close the purchase item(s) and/or cart are to any goal and/or
nutritional characteristics.
[0063] The visualization component 105 can also be configured to
generate dynamic displays based on goal performance over time. In
some embodiments, the visualization component can enable a user to
select or generate an avatar associated with a current health and
wellness state for that user. The visualization component can
further enable selection or generation of a goal avatar having a
different display appearance than the current state avatar. Upon
completion of goal activities or portions of an identified goal,
the current state avatar can be modified to display with
characteristics of the goal avatar. The modifications can be made
incrementally upon completion of a portion of the goal, over time,
etc., until the goal is met and the current state avatar is the
same as the goal avatar.
[0064] In some embodiment, individual purchases can be excluded
from consideration for health and wellness criteria and/or goals.
For example, purchases made for others can be identified in a user
interface by the user to exclude from considerations. In another
example, purchases can be made for other participants and the user
can identify other users to have the purchased considered against
the other users health and wellness criteria and/or goals.
[0065] In some settings, the visualization component 105 can be
further configured to publish the avatar. For example, the
visualization component can publish the avatar to social network
site associated with the user. Any modifications to the current
state avatar can be published at various stages of goal completion
including the completion of a user defined goal.
[0066] In one embodiment, a user can select or create an avatar
associated with their current health and wellness state. The
current health and wellness state can include user profile
information (e.g., height, weight, body fat %, BMI, age, existing
medical conditions, blood pressure, cholesterol counts (HDL and/or
LDL)). In one example, the avatar is a human form display having
physical display characteristics reflective of the users current
health and wellness state. For example, a larger waist on the
avatar can reflect a user having a weight greater than ideal. A
corresponding goal avatar can include, for example, a narrower
display waist reflective of a weight loss goal. The visualization
component 105 can be configured to accept user submitted
modification to any avatar display. For example, the user can
customize their avatar (current or goal) to conform to the user's
expectations or desires.
[0067] In some embodiments, definition of a goal avatar is
unnecessary as modifications can be made to the current state
avatar based on changes in a user's health and wellness state. Loss
of weight can trigger a modification to the avatar's displayed
waistline or other body dimensions. Increases in physical activity
level can be reflected in modifications to the avatar's display
posture and/or visualization of the avatar's musculature, for
example. A variety of modifications to physical display
characteristics can be visualized by the visualization component
105 based on, for example, goal performance. The visualization
component can also be configured to modify display characteristics
based on health and wellness scoring of any tracked purchase,
including, for example, general merchandise purchases reflecting
improvements in health. Purchases of exercise equipment, for
example, can be scored by the health and wellness platform as
reflective of improvements in physical activity levels and/or
increased levels of exercise for a given user. These improvements
can be reflected in modification to the user's corresponding
avatar.
[0068] Other Components
[0069] Shown in FIG. 1B is a block diagram of another example
system architecture for an embodiment of a health and wellness
platform 110. Health and wellness platform 110 can include a
plurality of executable system components (including e.g.,
components 102-105 discussed above) that when executed enable
system functions and operations described herein. For example,
health and wellness platform 110 can be implemented using a general
purpose computer system (e.g., FIG. 9, system 900) having at least
one processor connected to a memory, wherein the processor when
executing is specially configured to perform the processes and/or
functions discussed.
[0070] In some embodiments, a health and wellness platform can also
be integrated with shopping subsystems, that provide for on-line
shopping in grocery, pharmacy, and general merchandise categories.
Shown in FIG. 1C is a block diagram of an example system
architecture for an embodiment of a health and wellness platform
150. Platform 150 includes shopping subsystem 152. Platform 150 and
shopping subsystem 152 can be operated by a single provider,
permitting a single registration for any of the shopping sites
(e.g., grocery 154, pharmacy 156, and general merchandise 158) of
the shopping subsystem or the health and wellness platform 150 to
create user accounts accessible by any of the other systems.
[0071] In other embodiments, the health and wellness platform can
be connected to external shopping sites via a communication network
162. FIG. 1D is a block diagram of an example system architecture
for an embodiment of a health and wellness platform 160. The health
and wellness platform 160 can communicate with external shopping
sites 164 to obtain purchase activity for a given user. Health and
wellness platform can be configured to communicate with grocery
delivery site(s) 166, pharmacy site(s) 168, and/or general
merchandise sites 170. In some embodiments, the health and wellness
platform 160 can also be configured to capture purchase information
from on-line rewards accounts with other merchants permitting
capture of both on-line and off-line purchase activity. For
example, platform 160 can communicate with on-line reward sites 172
using account information provided by an end-user.
[0072] Returning to FIG. 1B, in some embodiments, health and
wellness platform 110 can include a registration component 106 that
can be configured to register users. Registration can include
identification by the user of on-line shopping sites and/or
accounts. In some embodiments, the registration component 106 can
be configured to request account information for the on-line
shopping sites including access information (e.g., user names and
passwords).
[0073] Registration Component
[0074] The registration component 106 can also be configured to
request information on shopping memberships, reward accounts,
and/or other on-line sources of purchase activity. The information
requested can include account access information, so that the
health and wellness platform can capture purchase activity
performed on external accounts. In some examples, credit card
information (e.g., account and/or access information) can also be
obtained.
[0075] Registration component 106 can be configured to capture
account information for any one or more shopping sites, grocery
delivery services, pharmacy fulfillment sites, general merchandise
sites, and reward accounts held by a user. The user can enter
account information in a user interface displayed on a host
computer system 112, which can include, for example, portable
computing devices, smart phones 114, or other mobile computing
devices. Once the account information is captured, the information
can be stored in an attached memory for use by other system
components. Any registered account information can be used by the
health and wellness platform to monitor purchase activity.
[0076] Analysis Component
[0077] In some embodiments, the health and wellness platform 110
can also include an analysis component 107. The analysis component
can be configured to analyze monitored purchase activity obtained
by, for example, monitor component 103. Analysis component 107 can
be configured to operate in conjunction with monitor component 103
to determine health and wellness scoring for purchase activity. In
some embodiments, analysis component 107 can be configured as a
sub-component of monitor component 103.
[0078] In some embodiments, scoring of purchase activity can be
determined by the analysis component based on user defined goals.
In one embodiment, analysis component 107 analyzes on-line purchase
activity. Each purchase item can be evaluated for nutritional
characteristics and/or other health and wellness criteria to
determine if defined goals are satisfied given the current
purchases. For example, grocery items can be analyzed for their
nutritional information. The analysis component 107 can be
configured to extrapolate, for example, calories per serving, fat
consumption, sugar consumption, etc., over periods of time based on
analysis of the nutritional information obtained for individual
purchases or aggregation of purchases. The analysis component 107
can compare how the extrapolated measures compare to any user
defined goals (e.g., weight loss, reduce fat intake, etc.) and
score them accordingly. For purchases that have not been completed,
the analysis component can communicate the scoring and/or
underlying data to a recommendation component (e.g., 104) for
real-time or near real-time improvement suggestions.
[0079] The analysis component can also be configured to extrapolate
purchase information to project purchase activity of a period of
time comparable to periods of times set for user goals. For
example, a user can establish a monthly goal to reduce calories per
serving in meals. The health and wellness platform and/or the
analysis component 107 can be configured to aggregate purchases
over the month to determine a benchmark monthly calorie per serving
figure. In another example, individual purchases and their
associated nutritional information can be projected as if the item
was purchased over the monthly period and then compared to the
benchmark value to determine if the goal will be met, not met, or
exceeded. In yet another example, known or identified purchases and
associated nutritional information can be averaged and the average
projected over the period of time to compare to user defined goals.
The analysis component 107 can also be configured to model past
purchase information into statistical models of expected purchase
characteristics. Current purchases and/or shopping carts to be
purchased can be evaluated against the statistical models to
determine how close the user is or will be to meeting the user
defined goals.
[0080] In some embodiments, the analysis component 107 can be
configured to request recommendations from a recommendation
component 104 when the analysis component identifies purchases that
fail to meet user defined goals or other default settings. Further,
the analysis component 107 can be configured to communicate the
analyzed information to a visualization component (e.g., 105) which
can render visual indications of the results of the analysis.
[0081] The various components (e.g., 102-107) of the health and
wellness platform 110 can be connected via a interconnection
mechanism 109. In one embodiment, the interconnection mechanism 109
can enable communication between the analysis component 107 and a
visualization component 105. Communication can occur between
processes over a bus or between separate computing systems via a
network. In some embodiments, the interconnection mechanism 109 can
include one or more busses that permit computer executed processes
to communicate. In some examples, the interconnection mechanism can
include communication networks enabling inter-component
communication of data.
[0082] In some embodiments, health and wellness platform 110
includes a user interface component 108 configured to mediate
interaction between the health and wellness platform and the end
user. In some embodiments, each of the components, 102-107, can be
configured to communicate data first to a user interface component
108, which generates a user interface display incorporating the
communicated data. The user interface display can be shown on end
user computer system (e.g., 112-114). In response to user input
within the user interface display, user interface component 108 can
accept the input information over communication network 113 and
communicate the input information to the appropriate component for
processing within the health and wellness system 110.
[0083] In various embodiments, the health and wellness platform can
include some or all of the components discussed above. In
particular, various functions and processes discussed can be
executed by any number of components, whether or not each of the
discussed components is separately instantiated on the health and
wellness platform. In some embodiments, a health and wellness
platform can be configured to execute any or any combination of the
functions discussed regardless of whether the individual components
are installed on the platform.
[0084] Example Health and Wellness Processes
[0085] According to some embodiments, a health and wellness
platform is configured to execute processes for delivering health
and wellness recommendations based on defined goals. FIG. 2
illustrates an example process 200 for delivering recommendations
to a user based on established goals. Process 200 can begin at 202
with an end user registering for an account. The account may be a
universal account configured to provide access to a health and
wellness platform, shopping sites, social network sites, etc. In
some embodiments, the account is specific to a health and wellness
platform. Registration at 202 can include defining account
information for shopping sites that the user has registered for
and/or uses to make purchases. Registration at 202 can also be
configured to invoke sub-processes for capturing registration
information.
[0086] Process 200 can continue once registration is complete at
204 by prompting the user to input any desired health and wellness
goals. In some embodiments, health and wellness goals can be
presented to the user for selection in a user interface. Health and
wellness goals can be associated with a plurality of measurable
characteristics. For example, a weight loss goal can be set as
reduce caloric intake, or reduce calories per serving. Grocery
shopping activity can be accessed for the user and monitored at 206
using the registration information provided at 202. The monitored
activity can be analyzed for reporting to the user at 208. For
example, the grocery shopping activity being monitored at 206 can
be analyzed at 208 for nutrition information, including calories
per serving. In some examples, caloric information on the purchases
can be extrapolated to derive a projection of total calories based
on current purchases and reported to the user at 208. In some
further examples, grocery activity can be monitored in real time
and when purchases exceed, meet, or do not meet goals, the user can
be provided feedback at 208 during their shopping activity.
Feedback at 208 can include recommendations for alternative
products that meet or exceed health and wellness goals.
[0087] Shown in FIG. 3 is an example embodiment of a computer
implemented process 300 for providing real time or near real time
health and wellness recommendations during on-line shopping
experiences. Process 300 can be executed by a health and wellness
platform and/or system components to provide real time or near real
time health and wellness recommendations during on-line shopping
experiences. In one embodiment, process 300 can begin at 302, when
a user accesses a health and wellness platform. The user can begin
shopping at 304 within the health and wellness platform on
connected shopping systems. In another embodiment, a user can begin
shopping through external on-line shopping sites at 304 made
accessible by the health and wellness platform via a browser
executing on the computer system. The browser process can be
configured to capture shopping activity as it is performed. In
another example, the user accesses the health and wellness platform
at 302 which is configured to track the user's shopping activity on
the user's computer system upon access to the health and wellness
platform. For example, accessing health and wellness platform at
302 can trigger tracking applications to be executed on a user's
computer system. In other embodiments, other tracking vehicles can
be executed, for example, on the user's computer system, including
other processes configured to capture the user's shopping
activity.
[0088] During an on-line shopping experience the user can view
items or select items for inclusion in the user's shopping cart at
306. In response to the user viewing items, alternative products
can be identified and recommended to the user at 308. In one
example, nutritional characteristics of items in the user's on-line
shopping cart can be evaluated, and matching grocery items having
better nutritional characteristics can be recommended at 308. In
another example, characteristics of the items in the user's on-line
shopping cart can be evaluated against health and wellness goals
stored on the health and wellness platform and recommendations that
improve goal performance can be recommended at 308.
[0089] Recommendations can also be based on user profile
information. In one embodiment, a user's medical conditions can be
defined in a user profile. The medical conditions can be entered by
the user or can be determined, for example, from medication
purchases. Various medical conditions and/or the medications used
to treat the medical conditions can cause interaction with
purchased items. For example, user's having high blood pressure
conditions can receive recommendations on salt content of purchased
food items. Pharmacy prescriptions with known interactions can be
identified and communicated to the user. In some embodiments, a
variety of non-prescription alternatives or supplements to
prescribed medication can be identified to the user for a medical
condition.
[0090] Recommendations can also include items that are not
substitutes for items in a shopping cart. For example, dietary
supplements can be recommended where shortfalls in nutritional
categories are identified. General merchandise recommendations can
also be made at 308. For example, books on healthier eating,
cooking light, and/or outdoor activities can be recommended based
on selections made by the user. In some embodiments, goal triggered
recommendations can include recommended purchases for exercise
equipment and/or other fitness based general merchandise.
Recommendations delivered at 308 can also include reminders. For
example, a user with recurring prescriptions can receive reminders
to refill their prescriptions during on-line shopping activity.
[0091] In some embodiments, recommendations can be delivered to the
user in a browser or other user interface being used to shop
on-line. In other embodiments, recommendations can be delivered
separately via a user's mobile device and/or smart phone.
[0092] Once the user has completed their on-line shopping activity,
the final purchases can be stored at 310. Purchases and any
associated information can be stored in a database or other
repository at 310. In some embodiments, historic purchases can be
tracked and further analysis can be performed on the completed
purchases for a user. In other embodiments, historic purchase
activity can be further analyzed to identify additional alternative
purchases. For example, purchase alternatives can be stored and
retrieved during a subsequent on-line shopping session to improve
the speed of delivery of recommendations at 308.
[0093] Further analysis can also include goal performance
evaluations. In one embodiment, additional feedback can be provided
to the user outside of shopping activities based on evaluations of
completed purchases against defined goals. In some embodiments,
visual displays can be provided to the user indicating health and
wellness goal performance. In one example, avatar displays can be
published to a user's social site and/or delivered to the user's
mobile device. The appearance of the avatar can be configured to
reflect the user's performance with respect to their health and
wellness goals.
[0094] Shown in FIG. 4A is an example process 400, for defining a
user avatar. Process 400 can be executed by a health and wellness
platform and/or system components to enable a user to define
current state avatar and/or goal avatar used by the platform or
component(s). In one embodiment, process 400 can begin at 402 when
a registered user accesses a health and wellness platform. The user
can interact with a user interface on a host computer system. The
user can access a variety of management features for their account
in the user interface. In one example, the user is able to define
an avatar that the user wishes to reflect their current health and
wellness state at 404. The user can build, for example, a human
form display in the user interface. For example, the user can
define the avatar's hair color, hair position, hair style, body
shape, weight, arm length, leg length, sex, age and/or other
physical traits and characteristics to establish their human form
avatar. Shown in FIG. 4B is an example of an avatar defined for a
user.
[0095] In some embodiments, a current state avatar can be
established automatically at 404. For example, user profile
information can include height, weight, sex, and other
characteristics that can be used to define a current state avatar
for the user. The current state avatar can be a human form display
shown in the user interface. The scale and sizing of the human form
display can reflect body proportions based on height, weight, sex,
etc.
[0096] In some embodiments, the user can review the automatically
established avatar in the user interface. The user can make any
modifications to the avatar as desired, including increasing and/or
decreasing body mass (e.g., shrinking or enlarging the avatar's
displayed waist) or other physical features (e.g.,
increasing/decreasing display height, etc.). For example, the user
can change placement of eyes within a face, size of the eyes,
display position of the nose, size of the nose, shape of the nose,
display position of eyebrows, size and shape of eyebrows, etc.
[0097] Once the user defines their current health and wellness
state avatar at 404, the user can be prompted to generate a goal
avatar at 406. In one embodiment, the user can begin defining their
goal avatar using the current state avatar as a template. The user
can make any modifications desired to generate the goal avatar. In
some embodiments, changes to the goal avatar reflect improvements
in physical fitness (e.g., avatar is displayed with better
posture), physical characteristics (e.g., reduced waistline, more
defined musculature, etc.). In some embodiments, definition of the
goal avatar can include defining activities that the goal avatar
can perform. In some examples, the goal avatar can be shown in
various action poses (e.g., running, jumping, skiing, etc.) that
can reflect increases in physical activity. In other embodiments, a
goal avatar can include animations that reflect the avatar
performing the identified activity. An example goal avatar is
illustrated in FIG. 4C.
[0098] In some embodiments, a user can define current state avatars
and goal avatars on a health and wellness platform. The health and
wellness platform can be configured to report progress on goals
using the current state avatar and the goal avatar. For example, as
goals or portions of goals are completed the health and wellness
platform can modify the current state avatar to take on
characteristics of the goal avatar, until a defined goal is
completed and the current state avatar appears identical to the
goal avatar. In one embodiment, the changes in the current state
avatar can be communicated directly to the user and/or published
via social networking sites.
[0099] Shown in FIG. 5 is an example process 500 for reporting on
health and wellness performance using a visual display. Process 500
can be executed by a health and wellness platform and/or system
components to report on health and wellness performance using a
visual display. Process 500 begins at 502 where user activity, and
in one example shopping activity, is analyzed to determine how well
the user is meeting their defined goals. Based on the analysis of
the shopping activity, a current state avatar can be modified to
reflect the determined performance of the user at 506. For example,
a defined goal can include reduce caloric intake by a defined
amount over a period of time. The analysis of the user's shopping
activity can reflect partial accomplishment of the defined goal.
For example, the user can obtain a measure of caloric intake
reduced by an amount smaller than the goal. The positive progress
toward goal completion can be represented by incremental
improvements in a current state avatar. In some embodiments, a
current state avatar can be modified at 504 to reflect any
incremental achievement of a goal. In other embodiments,
modification of the current state avatar can be limited to
improvements only.
[0100] In one embodiment, the user's performance can be projected
over time for time based goals, and analysis of monitored activity
can be performed against projections covering the entire period. In
another embodiment, the goal period can be broken into smaller
intervals of time to permit analysis of the user's performance for
the smaller intervals of time.
[0101] Analysis of the user's performance can result in
modification of the user's avatar at 504. Current state avatars can
be published for viewing by the user at 506, which may or may not
reflect any modification made at 504 based on the analysis of the
user's performance at 502. In some embodiments, publication at 506
can include posting to social networking sites, for example, as
identified by the user. Analysis of the user's activity for goal
performance and corresponding modifications of a user's current
state avatar may depend on a number of factors. Such factors can
include, for example, a degree of completion of a goal, projection
of completion of the goal within the defined time, progress towards
completion, satisfaction of goal requirements for a smaller
interval of time, etc.
[0102] Shown in FIG. 6 is an example process 600 for determining
user performance. Process 600 can be executed by a health and
wellness platform and/or system components to determine user
performance of established goals. Process 600 begins at 602 with
receiving user health and wellness activity for a user. In some
examples, the health and wellness activity includes purchases made
by the users on shopping sites. The shopping sites can include
grocery, pharmacy, and general merchandise shopping. Health and
wellness activity can be received, for example, from records stored
in a database, communicated from shopping sites, input by the user,
captured from external sites, etc. The purchased items can be
analyzed individually and/or in groups for their health and
wellness characteristics.
[0103] For grocery items, nutritional characteristics can be
obtained for each item. The nutritional information can be analyzed
individually or as a group at 604. In some embodiments, analysis of
nutritional information can require statistical modeling of the
purchases and/or nutritional information at 606. For example,
purchases and/or associated health and wellness characteristics can
be modeled over periods of time. The modeled periods of time can be
adjusted to align with time periods set for any defined goals.
Individual grocery purchases are typically not consumed in their
entirety at one time, thus nutritional information associated with
each item and/or groups of items can be modeled to represent their
nutritional information over a defined period of time.
[0104] Analysis of historical purchases can be employed to
establish baseline statistical models of purchases and health and
wellness characteristics and time periods. Historical trends in
purchases can be modeled to more accurately project current
purchases against goal and/or other health criteria. Statistical
distributions can be determined, and probabilistic models fit to
the historical data to allow projections of current purchases.
[0105] In some embodiments, defined goals can be modeled across the
period of time established for the goal. Modeling goals over the
period of time can enable direct comparison of goal attributes to
health and wellness activity undertaken by a given user.
[0106] Statistical deviations can be calculated against actual,
modeled, and/or projected purchases and any goal criteria defined
for the user at 608. If the user has met their goals precisely no
deviation is identified at 608 and the deviation or its lack can be
scored at 610. In some embodiments, scoring can be straightforward
with respect to a goal: met and not met. Each condition can be
assigned a value, in some examples, and the value used in reporting
performance. In one alternative, the conditions themselves can be
used and interpreted by other processes in reporting performance.
In some other embodiments, the degree of deviation can be evaluated
and used to score performance at 610. Degree scores and/or
categories can be assigned based on the degree of deviation: met
goal, exceeds goal, far exceeds goal, etc.
[0107] For some goals, the criteria and its evaluation can be as
simple as met and not met with no need for further analysis. In one
example, a goal can be set by a user for managing an existing
health condition. Purchasing the appropriate medications for the
condition can be the measure evaluated for determining
compliance/performance associated with the goal. In some
embodiments, recommendations in the form of reminders to purchase
the appropriate medications can be delivered to user to assist in
meeting the user's goal. Scoring for such a goal may not require
execution of process 600.
[0108] In some embodiments, recommendations can be determined and
delivered by a health and wellness system related to the goal of
managing the user's condition. For example, healthier foods
selections may improve the user's ability to manage their
condition. For a user with high cholesterol, on a cholesterol
reducing drug, the health and wellness platform can generate
recommendations for foods with low fat content, low or no
cholesterol content, etc. By adopting the recommendations the user
can be rewarded with improvements of their current state avatar. In
some embodiments, the adoption of the recommendations can be
assigned a score, and the score used in conjunction with deviation
scoring to provide an overall performance score at 610.
[0109] Although, in some embodiments, multiple goals can be set for
a user. In one embodiment, performance for each goal can be
measured separately. In other embodiments, performance can be
measured collectively. The scoring of performance can be
communicated to the user via modifications of the user's display
avatar (e.g., as discussed with respect to process 500). In some
alternatives, the scoring of the user's performance can also be
communicated directly to the user.
[0110] Various embodiments of a health and wellness platform can be
configured to execute any one or more of the discussed process
flows. Further, various components of the health and wellness
platform can be configured to execute any one or more of the steps
discussed with respect to the process flows. The process flows are
intended to be exemplary and non-limiting. In some embodiments,
various steps discussed can be omitted, combined with other steps,
and/or executed in different order. In further embodiments, the
steps of the process flows discussed can also be configured to call
and/or execute other processes.
[0111] For example, process 200 can be configured to execute
process 1100, for example, as part of or in conjunction with 202.
Shown in FIG. 11 is an example process 1100 for capturing
registration information. Process 1100 begins by requesting
identifying information for the user at 1102. For example, name and
address can be requested. A desired user name and password can also
be requested at 1102. At 1104, the user is asked if they are
participating as an individual or if they wish to participate as a
family or group. If the user is participating as an individual 1104
YES, the user is asked to input their health information (e.g.,
height, weight, fitness level, current medical conditions) at 1106.
Although the user can provide no information at 1106 and process
1100 can continue to 1108, where the user is asked for information
on any shopping accounts they may be registered for. If the user
has registered for other shopping accounts, 1108 YES, the user is
asked to input account information at 1110. The user can be asked
to submit account access information for any shopping account they
may have.
[0112] In some embodiments, process 1100 can be executed on an
integrated health and wellness platform (e.g., 150, FIG. 1C), thus
external account information may not be necessary. However, even in
integrated health and wellness/shopping environments, some
embodiments can be configured to track and monitor purchase
activity for external accounts in addition to activity with the
platform (e.g., 150). In addition to shopping accounts, account
information for reward memberships can also be requested at 1110.
For example, shopping club reward memberships can track user
purchases, which can be used to monitor health and wellness
activity and/or make health and wellness recommendations. Once
account information (e.g., shopping accounts, reward memberships,
etc.) has been entered at 1110, or not if there are no accounts to
enter at 1108 NO, the user can be asked if they wish to configure
the health and wellness platform for social recommendations and/or
performance tracking at 1112.
[0113] If the user wishes to participate in the social aspects of
health and wellness recommendations and monitoring at 1112 YES, the
user is asked to input account information for existing social
network sites (e.g., the well known FACEBOOK system) at 1114. In
some examples, the user can be registered for a social networking
site automatically at 1114. Process 1110 can conclude at 1118 if
the user does not wish to configure social settings at 1112 NO. In
some embodiments, process 1100 is also configured to support
registration of groups and/or families for health and wellness
monitoring.
[0114] At 1104 NO, a user can indicate that the user is registering
a group or family for health and wellness monitoring. The user is
requested to identify the number of participants in the group at
1116. Process 1100 can request identifying information for each
participant in the group and further can be configured to execute
steps 1106-1114 for each participant. In some embodiments,
identification of other participants is sufficient and process 1100
can continue at 1106 by requesting health information on the
registering user, as discussed above. In some embodiments, when a
user has registered for a group or family, during subsequent
purchasing activity, the user may identify which member or members
of the group or family is/are the intended recipient(s) of
purchased items. Also separate avatars may be used for each member
and/or a representative group avatar may also be used.
[0115] In other embodiments, processes (e.g., 200-600) can be
configured to invoke other of the discussed processes. In one
example, processes 200 can invoke process 700 or any portion of
process 700. Shown in FIG. 7 is an example process 700 for defining
user goals. Process 700 can be executed by a health and wellness
platform and/or system components to define user health and
wellness goals. In one embodiment, process 700 can begin at 702
with a user inputting goal information in a user interface. For
example, the user can input goal information based on displays of
pre-defined goals and/or goal information. In one embodiment, the
information input by the user in the user interface can establish
if the user wishes to choose a pre-defined health and wellness goal
at 704. If the user selects a pre-defined goal 704 YES, the user
can be prompted to select a specific goal or goals and/or a goal
category from which to select specific goals or goals at 706.
[0116] Specific goals can include weight loss, reduce calorie
intake, reduce calories per serving, lower sodium intake, reduce
sugar consumption, reduce fat consumption, increase physical
activity, increase exercise, lower carbohydrate intake, manage
medical condition, etc. Pre-defined goals for selection can also
include setting ideal weight and/or defining proportions of a
nutrition category (e.g., protein, fat, carbohydrates, sugar, salt,
etc.) for food items. At 708, the user can be prompted to set or
select values for measureable characteristics that the user wishes
to be monitored. Measureable characteristics can include target
amounts/levels of nutritional characteristics for food items, among
other examples. In particular, the measureable characteristics
establish characteristics that can be measured by tracking purchase
activity (e.g., nutritional category proportion, calories per
serving, fat content, etc.).
[0117] For example, pre-defined goals can include a group of
characteristics for nutritional categories (e.g., reduce fat,
reduce sugar, reduce total calories, reduce calories per serving)
and the user can set values for each category or select nutritional
categories on which to set values. In some embodiments, historic
purchasing activity is available to define current values for the
user's current consumption levels of a variety of nutritional
categories. Current consumption values can be displayed in
conjunction with establishing goal target values at 708.
[0118] The user can also be prompted set time frames for the user's
goals at 710. In some embodiments, drop down lists can be displayed
in the user interface for selection by the user. For example, time
frame selections can be displayed including: daily, weekly,
monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, yearly, etc. In other embodiments,
the user can be presented a text box for inputting a desired time
frame at 710.
[0119] In some embodiments, a user may wish to enter goals not
predefined on the system at 704 NO. The user can enter goal
information, for example, as a text input. In some embodiments, the
user entered free text defining goals can be matched to pre-defined
goals at 712 YES. Matching goals and any measureable
characteristics can be presented to the user at 714 in the user
interface in response to determining the match at 712 YES. Text
input can include "lose 10 pounds" or "lose weight" for example.
"Lose weight" can be matched at 712 YES with any one or more of:
reduce calories per serving, reduce fat per serving, reduce total
calories consumed, etc. The goals and characteristics can be
presented to the user at 714.
[0120] As discussed above, at 708, the user can be prompted to set
or select values for measureable characteristics that the user
wishes to be monitored. For example, pre-defined goals can include
a group of characteristics for nutritional categories and the user
can set values for each category or select or remove categories on
which to set values. Historic consumption values can be displayed
to assist the user in setting goal target values at 708. The user
can then set time frames for the user's goals at 710.
[0121] If the user entered goals do not match any goals on the
system 712 NO, the user is prompted to define their own goal
characteristics at 716. The user can select from characteristics
available on the system at 718 YES, in which case the user sets or
selects values for the measureable characteristics and any time
period at 710. If the user can not further define their goals or
select characteristics that are available, 718 NO, the user defined
goal can be stored for administrative review at 720. Review can
generate recommendations to the user for trackable characteristics.
In some embodiments, reviewed user defined goals can be stored for
later use as predefined goals.
[0122] Shown in FIG. 8 is an example process 800 for generating
health and wellness recommendations for a user. Process 800 can be
executed by a health and wellness platform and/or system components
to generate health and wellness recommendations. In some
embodiments, process 800 can be invoked by other processes, for
example, during execution of process 200 at step 208. Process 800
begins at 802 with receiving monitored health and wellness activity
for a user. For example, on-line grocery purchases can be received
from a shopping system and analyzed for nutritional properties at
803 YES. The nutritional characteristics for the purchases can be
obtained either from storage or from an on-line source at 804.
[0123] The nutritional characteristics and/or other health and
wellness criteria can be evaluated at 806 to determine if, for
example, defined goals are satisfied given the current purchases.
In one example, grocery items can be analyzed for their nutritional
information at 806. In some embodiments, the nutrition information
can be compared against projected nutritional characteristics for a
period of time. In other embodiments, user goals can be segmented
into periods of time and the segmented periods compared to the
received health and wellness activity to determine if a current
purchase or purchases satisfy goals.
[0124] For purchases that do not meet goals and even purchases that
do meet goals, alternative purchases can be identified at 808 that
improve goal characteristics either individually or in the
aggregate. For analyzed items, equivalent items having improved
characteristics can be retrieved from a database of products and
nutritional information. In some embodiments, similar items can
also be retrieved and analyzed to provide recommendations for
purchases having improved nutritional characteristics. For example,
searches can be executed against local databases storing product
and nutrition information. Names of products received, can be
searched to identify the same or similar products in the database.
The returned results can be ranked by their nutritional
characteristics, eliminating products that do not have
characteristics that are as good or better than a what is in the
user's current shopping cart. In other examples, any identifying
information received on a user's purchases can be used as search
criteria to automatically identify alternative products. In some
embodiments, external systems can be queried to identify
alternative products with improved nutritional characteristics.
Alternatives can be delivered to the user as recommendations to
modify the user's current purchase selections 810.
[0125] In some embodiments, recommendations can be delivered to a
user in a user interface the user is viewing during their shopping
activity. In other embodiments, recommendations can be delivered to
computer devices associated with the user. For example,
recommendations can be delivered to a user's smart phone, mobile
computer, or other computer device.
[0126] In some embodiments, recommendations can be delivered on
other properties 803 NO. For example, purchase information can
evaluated for non-nutritional recommendations, including
recommendations based on a user's profile. In one example,
recommendations can include reminders or warnings regarding drug
purchases delivered to the user. The user's profile information can
identify medical conditions for a respective user. In some
examples, past purchase information can be used to identify
conditions, and/or the need for reminders to purchase medications.
The medical conditions can require medications that are refilled on
a schedule. Past purchase history and current purchase analysis can
determine that a needed prescription has not been filled at 812. A
reminder to purchase the medication can be generated at 814.
[0127] Process 800 can optionally continue at 808 with alternative
analysis and identification of generic medicine alternatives,
and/or dietary recommendation that have beneficial characteristics
for a person with the medical condition. Reminders can be delivered
to the users at 810.
[0128] In some embodiments, drug and/or food interactions can be
identified based on evaluation of a user's purchases (both historic
and current purchases) at 812. In some embodiments, evaluation of
purchases at 812 can also include analysis of nutritional
information for generating reminders or warnings on drug
interactions or adverse indications for drug/food interactions. For
example, warnings for a user having a high blood pressure condition
can be generated at 814 based on grocery purchases having high salt
content. Alternative purchases selections can be identified at 808
with lower salt content, and the warning and alternatives can be
communicated to the user at 810.
[0129] Various embodiments may be implemented on one or more
specially programmed general purpose computer systems, including
for example systems 100, 150, and 160 in FIGS. 1A-D. These computer
systems may be, for example, general-purpose computers such as
those based on Intel PENTIUM-type processor, Motorola PowerPC, AMD
Athlon or Turion, Sun UltraSPARC, Hewlett-Packard PA-RISC
processors, or any other type of processor, including multi-core
processors. It should be appreciated that one or more of any type
computer system may be used to facilitate generating and delivering
health and wellness recommendations according to various
embodiments of the invention. Further, the computer system for
generating and delivering health and wellness recommendations may
be located on a single computer or may be distributed among a
plurality of computers attached by a communications network.
[0130] A general-purpose computer system according to one
embodiment of the invention is specially configured to perform any
one or more of the described functions, including but not limited
to, creating, storing, parsing, matching, evaluating, and
displaying health and wellness recommendations based on defined
goals or other health and wellness criteria, as well as monitoring
and analyzing any health and wellness data, including users
purchase activity made on-line or off-line at real world stores,
etc., and the invention is not limited to having any particular
function or set of functions.
[0131] FIG. 9 shows a block diagram of a general purpose computer
and network system 900 in which various aspects of the present
invention may be practiced. For example, various aspects of the
invention may be implemented as specialized software executing in
one or more computer systems including general-purpose computer
systems, 902-906, shown in FIG. 9. Various embodiments of a health
and wellness platform can be implemented on general purpose
computer systems (e.g., 902 and/or 904-906). Computer system 902
may include a processor 916 connected to one or more memory devices
914, such as a disk drive, memory, or other devices for storing
data. Memory 914 is typically used for storing programs and data
during operation of the computer system. Components of computer
system 902 may be coupled by an interconnection mechanism such as
network 908, which may include one or more busses (e.g., between
components that are integrated within a same machine) and/or a
network 910 (e.g., between components that reside on separate
discrete machines). The interconnection mechanism enables
communications (e.g., data, instructions) to be exchanged between
system components of the system.
[0132] Computer system 902 also includes one or more input/output
(I/O) devices 912, for example, a keyboard, mouse, trackball,
microphone, touch screen, a printing device, display screen (e.g.,
922), speaker, etc. In addition, computer system may contain one or
more interfaces (e.g., network communication device 920) that
connect computer system to a communication network 908 (in addition
or as an alternative to the network 910).
[0133] The storage system, typically includes a computer readable
and writeable nonvolatile recording medium in which signals are
stored that define a program to be executed by the processor or
information stored on or in the medium to be processed by the
program. The medium may, for example, be a disk or flash memory.
Typically, in operation, the processor 916 causes data to be read
from the nonvolatile recording medium into another memory that
allows for faster access to the information by the processor than
does the medium. This memory is typically a volatile, random access
memory such as a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) or static
memory (SRAM). The memory may be located in storage system 918, as
shown, or in memory system 914. The processor 916 generally
manipulates the data within the memory 914, and then copies the
data to the medium associated with storage after processing is
completed. A variety of mechanisms are known for managing data
movement between the medium and integrated circuit memory and the
invention is not limited thereto. The invention is not limited to a
particular memory system 914 or storage system 916.
[0134] The computer system may include specially-programmed,
special-purpose hardware, for example, an application-specific
integrated circuit (ASIC). Aspects of the invention may be
implemented in software, hardware or firmware, or any combination
thereof. Further, such methods, acts, systems, system elements and
components thereof may be implemented as part of the computer
system described above or as an independent system component (e.g.,
goal component, monitor component, recommendation component,
visualization component, registration component, and analysis
component).
[0135] Although the computer system of FIG. 9 is shown by way of
example as one type of computer system upon which various aspects
of the invention may be practiced, it should be appreciated that
aspects of the invention are not limited to being implemented on
the computer system as shown. Various aspects of the invention may
be practiced on one or more computers having a different
architectures or components that that shown in FIG. 9. The computer
system can execute the processes flows illustrated for example
FIGS. 2-8, and/or components of a health and wellness platform
system (e.g., platform 100, 150, and 160) can be also configured to
execute any of the processes or parts of process flows illustrated
in FIGS. 2-8. The processes can also include other processes,
sub-processes, and may be executed in conjunction.
[0136] The computer system 902 may be a general-purpose computer
system that is programmable using a high-level computer programming
language. The computer system may be also implemented using
specially programmed, special purpose hardware. In the computer
system, processor is typically a commercially available processor
such as the well-known Pentium class processor available from the
Intel Corporation. Many other processors are available including
multi-core processors and microprocessors. Such a processor usually
executes an operating system which may be, for example, the
Windows-based operating systems (e.g., Windows NT, Windows 2000
(Windows ME), Windows XP, Windows VISTA, Windows 7 operating
systems) available from the Microsoft Corporation, MAC OS System X
operating system available from Apple Computer, one or more of the
Linux-based operating system distributions (e.g., the Enterprise
Linux operating system available from Red Hat Inc.), the Solaris
operating system available from Sun Microsystems, or UNIX operating
systems available from various sources. Many other operating
systems may be used, and the invention is not limited to any
particular operating system.
[0137] The processor and operating system together define a
computer platform for which application programs in high-level
programming languages are written. It should be understood that the
invention is not limited to a particular computer system platform,
processor, operating system, or network. Also, it should be
apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is
not limited to a specific programming language or computer system.
Further, it should be appreciated that other appropriate
programming languages and other appropriate computer systems could
also be used.
[0138] One or more portions of the computer system may be
distributed across one or more computer systems coupled to a
communications network. These computer systems also may be
general-purpose computer systems. For example, various aspects of
the invention, for example, system components, may be distributed
among one or more computer systems (e.g., servers) configured to
provide a service to one or more client computers, or to perform an
overall task as part of a distributed system. For example, various
aspects of the invention may be performed on a client-server or
multi-tier system that includes components distributed among one or
more server systems that perform various functions according to
various embodiments of the invention including monitoring,
defining, accessing, and evaluating a user's purchase activity,
generating health and wellness recommendations, creating and
displaying user avatars, as examples. Other system components can
be configured to monitor a user's shopping activity, connect to
external shopping systems, access nutrition characteristics,
register users, identify shopping accounts, reward membership
account, define goals, project shopping activities, model shopping
activity, etc. These components may be executable, intermediate
(e.g., IL) or interpreted (e.g., Java) code which communicate over
a communication network (e.g., the Internet) using a communication
protocol (e.g., TCP/IP).
[0139] It should be appreciated that the invention is not limited
to executing on any particular system or group of systems. Also, it
should be appreciated that the invention is not limited to any
particular distributed architecture, network, or communication
protocol.
[0140] Various embodiments of the present invention may be
programmed using an object-oriented programming language, such as
Java, C++, Ada, or C# (C-Sharp). Other object-oriented programming
languages may also be used. Alternatively, functional, scripting,
and/or logical programming languages may be used. Various aspects
of the invention may be implemented in a non-programmed environment
(e.g., documents created in HTML, XML or other format that, when
viewed in a window of a browser program, render aspects of a
graphical-user interface (GUI) or perform other functions). Various
aspects of the invention may be implemented as programmed or
non-programmed elements, or any combination thereof.
[0141] Various aspects of this system can be implemented by one or
more systems within the computer system 902. For instance, a health
and wellness platform may be configured as a distributed system
(e.g., client server, multi-tier system). In one example, the
health and wellness platform includes software processes executing
on a system associated with a user (e.g., a client system). These
systems may permit the user to register for a health and wellness
platform, input demographic information, input medical conditions,
input user profile information, identify shopping sites, identify
reward memberships, social networking sites, identify other
external sources of user purchase information, etc. Further, client
systems can be associated with registered users who access, for
example, a health and wellness platform to received health and
wellness recommendations for purchase activity.
[0142] FIG. 10 shows an architecture diagram of an example system
according to one embodiment of the invention. It should be
appreciated that FIG. 10 is used for illustration purposes only,
and that other architectures may be used to facilitate one or more
aspects of the present invention.
[0143] As shown in FIG. 10, a distributed system 1000 can be
composed of a plurality of general purpose computer system (e.g.,
1002-1014) specially configured to conduct functions of a health
and wellness platform, including, but not limited to, monitoring,
and evaluation of health and wellness activity, generation of
recommendations for alternative purchases, supplemental purchases,
etc. The distributed system may include one or more general purpose
computer systems (e.g., 1002-1014) coupled by a communication
network 1016. Such computer systems may be, for example,
general-purpose computer systems as discussed above with reference
to FIG. 9.
[0144] In one embodiment of the present invention, a system 1002
stores attributes associated with nutritional characteristics of
grocery items, medical information associated with medications,
historical purchases for a user, statistical models for purchase
activity, collects information from external accounts, provide
browser processes for accessing shopping sites, etc. Each register
user can be associated with an entry 1018 in the database 1020,
additional entries can store information associated with each user,
for example, any purchase activity can be stored in association
with a respective user, etc. Various embodiments can employ
databases organized by record, although other database models can
be used to store information. In some examples, a relational
database model is implemented, and in others non-relational
database models can be employed.
[0145] Further, the system 1002 performs functions associated with
the displaying and modification of user avatars based on goal
performance, and other functions associated with defining and
classifying user goals, extrapolating goals into measureable
characteristics, and evaluating current purchase activity against
goals. The system 1002 can also be configured to access nutrition
information associated with grocery purchases, access medical
condition information associated with drug prescriptions, evaluate
general merchandise for health and wellness benefits, determine how
well a user is meeting or will meet any established goals, generate
recommendations based on health and wellness goals, medical
conditions, or other criteria. In some embodiments, system 1002 can
also be configured to instantiate and execute system components
(e.g., goal component, registration component, analysis component,
visualization component, monitor component, and recommendation
component) for monitoring and delivering health and wellness
recommendations. The various components can be configured to
perform the functions and/or operations, execute the processes, in
whole or in part, as discussed above.
[0146] The system 1002 may include a server process 1022 and/or
program 1023 that responds to requests from one or more client
programs. Process 1022 may include, for example, an HTTP server or
other server-based process (e.g., a database server process, XML
server, peer-to-peer process) that interfaces to one or more client
programs distributed among one or more client systems, for example
1010-1014, to provide access to users and/or deliver health and
wellness recommendations to the user during, for example, on-line
purchase activity.
[0147] According to one embodiment, client programs 1024 may be
capable of permitting a user 1030 to register for and receive
recommendations from a health and wellness platform. Such client
programs may include, for example, any type of operating system
and/or application program capable of communicating with the system
1002 through a network. In one particular instance, a client system
1004 may include a browser program (e.g., browser program 1026)
that communicates with the server process 1022 or program 1023
using one or more communication protocols (e.g., HTTP over a
TCP/IP-based network, XML requests using HTTP through an Ajax
client process, distributed objects, https, or other secure or
non-secure communication protocol).
[0148] In some settings, the health and wellness platform
implemented on system 1002 can include locally executable
components that can monitor on-line shopping activity as it takes
place on system 1004. In some embodiments, the health and wellness
platform can be configured to capture data from shopping activity
being performed on system 1004 based on execution of the locally
executable component(s) during shopping activity on 1002. In some
examples, a user 1030 can download and install the locally
executable components on system 1004. In other examples, system
1002 can be configured to automatically transmit the locally
executable component(s) to a user system, e.g., 1004.
[0149] Although it is shown by way of example that a browser
program 1026 may be used to access the health and wellness
platform, manage user profiles, register for a user for a health
and wellness platform, defined user avatars, it should be
appreciated that other program types may be used. The client
program may be, for example, a thin client including an interface
for accessing a health and wellness platform, accessing shopping
sites, and receive health and wellness recommendations.
Alternatively, the client may be a scripted program, or any other
type of program having the capability of transferring data from,
for example, a database 1028. According to one embodiment, such
client programs may, for example, be downloaded and installed over
the network. Further, these client programs may be stored and
distributed by system 1002 in the form of one or more software
programs, including for example, browser plug-ins, active x
objects, applets, and java code.
[0150] Having now described some illustrative embodiments of the
invention, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that
the foregoing is merely illustrative and not limiting, having been
presented by way of example only. Numerous modifications and other
illustrative embodiments are within the scope of one of ordinary
skill in the art and are contemplated as falling within the scope
of the invention. In particular, although many of the examples
presented herein involve specific combinations of method acts or
system elements, it should be understood that those acts and those
elements may be combined in other ways to accomplish the same
objectives. Acts, elements and features discussed only in
connection with one embodiment are not intended to be excluded from
a similar role in other embodiments. Further, for the one or more
means-plus-function limitations recited in the following claims,
the means are not intended to be limited to the means disclosed
herein for performing the recited function, but are intended to
cover in scope any means, known now or later developed, for
performing the recited function.
[0151] As used herein, whether in the written description or the
claims, the terms "comprising", "including", "containing",
"characterized by" and the like are to be understood to be
open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only the
transitional phrases "consisting of" and "consisting essentially
of" respectively, shall be closed or semi-closed transitional
phrases, as set forth, with respect to claims, in the United States
Patent Office Manual of Patent Examining Procedures (Eighth Edition
2nd Revision, May 2004), Section 2111.03.
[0152] Use of ordinal terms such as "first", "second", "third",
"a", "b" "c" etc., in the claims to modify or otherwise identify a
claim element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence,
or order of one claim element over another or the temporal order in
which acts of a method are performed, but are used merely as labels
to distinguish one claim element having a certain name from another
element having a same name (but for use of the ordinal term) to
distinguish the claim elements.
* * * * *